2-1 against Aberdeen
Despite a lackluster performance, Eintracht Frankfurt celebrated the opening victory they had hoped for in the group phase of the Conference League. Under the eyes of DFB sports director and interim national coach Rudi Völler and managing director Andreas Rettig, the Bundesliga club won 2-1 (1-1) against FC Aberdeen in front of 55,500 fans on Thursday evening, but had a very difficult time doing so for long stretches.
Omar Marmoush in the 11th minute with a penalty kick and Robin Koch (62nd) scored the goals for the dominant 2022 Europa League winner, who had little to offer in attack against the staid Scots. Dante Polvara (22nd) scored for the guests to make it 1-1. Hessen’s other opponents in Group G are the Greek runner-up PAOK Saloniki and Finland’s champion HJK Helsinki.
Eintracht had the game largely under control against the defensively minded Scots, who played with a five-man defense. However, the Hessians were hardly able to create any chances. Luckily for Eintracht, referee Chrysovalantis Theouli (Cyprus) awarded a penalty early on after a collision with junior Dinah Ebimbe in the penalty area. Marmoush turned ice cold.
With the lead behind them, Frankfurt lacked the necessary concentration and was punished for it. Ellyes Skhiri initiated a quick counterattack by the guests with a careless bad pass in midfield, which the free-standing Polvara completed with a dry shot under the crossbar. National goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was powerless.
Even before the break there was a personnel setback for the Hessians: Captain Sebastian Rode, who had just returned from sick leave, had to leave the field early with a suspected calf injury. Hugo Larsson came for him. Eintracht also had clear field advantages afterwards, but they lacked creativity and assertiveness in attack. The offensive attempts repeatedly bounced off the Scottish defensive bulwark.
The consequence: Mario Götze and Paxten Aaronson stayed in the dressing room after the change, while Fares Chaibi and Jessic Ngankam came on. But it hardly got any better in terms of play. So a standard had to be used again. After a corner from Chaibi, Koch scored with his head. Afterwards, Eintracht maintained their narrow lead, which was no longer in danger until the end.
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